Built for “connectedness”
- God formed us with a connection to him. This is the first relationship that was built in Genesis 1:26-27. First God made man in his own image. And he made man and woman companions for each other.
- Genesis chapter 2:21-23 reinforces that when it reviews how God made Adam and Eve and how first God had Adam name all the pairs of animals to solidify in his mind his need for a companion, and then from Adam’s side God created Eve. That’s a really close relationship! And one that really brought him joy! He composes a poem because of it.
- Then notice in Genesis 2:24 God established that though relationships would change, a husband would leave his parents ( this set even before there were parents in the world) and be united to his wife. Being connected was constant thing.
Crisis of connection
Last week I learned something incredibly simple, but eye opening. Dr. Henry Cloud, a Christian clinical psychologist, explained what our brains go through during a crisis. It goes something like this- Your brain makes maps of how to do life. Maps of relationships, maps of routine, maps of conversations. It’s so good at times that in a familiar place you can walk through a room, even though it’s pitch black, and safely get through it. You already have it mapped. BUT if someone moves a couch in your path, when you run into it you mind will register and ERROR. Your response is your system amps up- and for a moment you lose function- physically, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically. Then you quickly recover and solve the problem and go back to normal.
- Crisis disrupts the wiring of our normal connections with others and with God. You don’t see the people you normally see, you don’t run into them in the hall or in your neighborhood. You’re not at church with the people that are built to encourage you. I don’t get these little touches of connections that give me life.
Be intentional!
Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
2 Corinthians 1:3–5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
- Find ways to make a connection-and understand you are dealing with an error. It’s not going to be ideal, but as you build a new map it will help you navigate this crisis.
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- 1. With your family, friends, coworkers- Have regular family/friend zoom time, or chat on the phone.
- 2. Don’t ignore our need for a Savior. Our horizontal connectedness is important now, but more so is our vertical.
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- Set a schedule to worship with your brothers and sisters in faith. We still do 11:00 every Sunday.
- Connect in prayer- it’s as simple as posting it on our site and people can actually pray for you.
- Zoom Bible class. Thursdays 7:00
- Zoom Pop-in Wednesday nights 7:00. I will just be on zoom from 7-8:30pm if anyone wants to check in, say hi, ask questions, share how many typos they found on last week’s service:)
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